Walter Brennan plays the part of a father raising four children, but has his own ideas about how to run a farm.


This movie is part of the collection: Feature Films

Director: William D. Russell
Producer: Monte Collins, Glenn McCarthy, Robert Paige
Production Company: RKO Radio Pictures
Audio/Visual: sound, black & white
Keywords: Drama; Natalie Wood
Contact Information: www.k-otic.com

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: krishna kumar menon - - April 5, 2011
Subject: Simply Warm & Charming
I must state that this film has been amongst the most warm and sentimental that I have viewed for quite some time. Natalie Wood as Susan Mathews simply compels you to strain your eyes and ears for any movement or word made. Why had she not got the same raving reviews that was benevolently passed on to other child stars of the 30s & 40s?
The plot is reminiscent of the Depression era in the US where most farmers from the Dust Bowl ventured otherwise to far territories to take up contracted farming.
Walter Brennen ( an underrated actor who played roles far beyond his actual age)as always gives a worthy performance and you almost want to vote against him in his "Democratic Process' especially when it is to put up Susans need to mother a couple of lambs.
The nasty Abergail is quite the stereotype of the elder sister but Deborah as the sister playing the surrogate mother has the right emotions.
A simply , "put your thoughts aside and view" type of family movie.
The only gripe that I have is that the print is terrible. Hope someone uploads a better version.

Reviewer: Dr Feel Rotten - - November 22, 2010
Subject: Natalie Wood
Wow..the face and smile that launched 1000000 ships there. Has any kid before or since given a performance to melt more hearts than that of Susan Mathews? When the banker gave her the once over you had to be saying, "Now how could even scrooge turn her down for $75?" Heck, I'm broke and would pawn everything i own to loan that smile $75 if I had anything left to pawn and old Walter Brennen knew how to play the sour old bastard when he wanted to, but sure could lay on the charm just as easily. They don’t make em like this anymore. They broke the molds.
Most people will miss the message of Walters character and it wasn't that he was a nasty old bastard, but that people can and do change for the better once every 90000 years or so.

Reviewer: kareneliot - - August 14, 2010
Subject: An excellent movie
Oh that Walter Brennan.... I love to hate him. He really irritated me in Meet John Doe too.

I enjoyed this one very much and am heartily endorsing it with 5 stars.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND VIEWING.

Reviewer: movieman16 - - April 16, 2010
Subject: Best movie I have seen in a long time.
I really liked the perfomances by all of the actors.I liked the the story and really appreciated Natalie Wood.What happened to movies like this? Unfortuantly they don't make them anymore.
Movieman 16

Reviewer: doowopbob - - October 11, 2009
Subject: Hiss The Villan....
Producer, Glenn McCarthy (An Original Right Winger..!) Was A Texas Oil Tycoon, Who Thought America Was Going To Hell In A Handbasket, He Put Up The Moolah For This Epic...Just Watch Natalie's Performance.......Feisty...Takes No Prisoners..Men Don't Know It All..!...Unfortunatly, Her Death Was Caused By 2 Men..!.....As For The Previous Reviewer.......Walter Won 5 Academy Awards.....HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING....!....Ya Macaroon....!

Reviewer: elmagno - - September 4, 2008
Subject: The Villian of the Piece
No, let's forget that, although Walter Brennan is nearly impossible to like or forgive here. The Hero of the Piece? Natalie Wood was never more beautiful, lively, and expressive. She packs a mean punch, too. Good film about a lost but not long lost America.